Chicken Malai Kabab Anyone? Finally the wait for Chicken Kabab /Tikka post on my space is over. Tikka /Kabab is as well-known amongst Americans as Indians. And I have friends who love it so much, they make me take them to Indian restaurants when possible. My friends keep asking me…How come you have not published the famous Kabab recipe in your website?
Though, I would have made Chicken Malai Kabab /Murg Malai Tikka several times and this recipe has been lying in my draft for some time without pics.Whenever I made these, they were devoured in no time 🙂 I’ve been looking for a reason to make them again ever since, and they fit perfectly on our usual get-together with friends last weekend. This time I’m lucky enough to shoot some pics. Once you taste this dish you will know why photographing is a challenge.
Well, There are many versions of this recipe floating around food blogs and I have tried different version, but I choose this one because of lot of great flavor, and it is very delicious. I will have to probably post 3-4 versions from time to time. For now I’m posting this Afghani Murg Malai (Chicken) Kabab. I saw these yummy recipe here and then navigated to here. So I adapted and tried with my own magical touch 🙂 Believe me it was a super hit here.
Succulent cubes of chicken pieces marinated with cream and spices and grilled or baked in oven, then served with green chutney or sauce, is enough to tempt anyone on earth. All of the flavors of this simple marinade blend so perfectly together and compliment the chicken amazingly well. Sounds inviting, right? So why do you want to wait friends do give it a try. I’m sure you will like it and don’t forget to share your opinion with me 🙂
Chicken Malai Kabab/Afghan Murgh Malai Kabab /Murg Malai Tikka
Chicken Malai Kabab Recipe | Afghan Murg Malai Tikka Kababs Recipe
Ingredients
- First Marinade :
- Skinless Boneless Chicken Breast or Chicken Thigh : 1 lb /1/2 kg cut in medium-small chunks
- Raw Papaya : one 1" piece made into a paste
- Ginger Garlic Paste : 2 tsp
- Lime Juice : 1 tbsp or you can substitute with vinegar : 1 tbsp
- Salt to taste
- Second Marinate :
- Cashew nuts : 3 tbsp
- Milk : 1/4 cup
- Cheddar cheese : 2 tbsp finely grated
- Cardamom Powder : 1/4 tsp
- Freshly Grounded Black Pepper Powder : 2 tsp
- Freshly Grated Nutmeg : 1/4 tsp
- Kasoori Methi : 1/4 tsp
- Ground Cumin Powder /Jeera Powder : 1/2 tsp
- Garam Masala Powder : 1 tsp
- Eggs : 2
- Heavy Cream : 2 tbsp
- Oil /Ghee /Butter : 1 tbsp
- Salt to taste
Instructions
- Marinate the cleaned chicken chunks with all the ingredients listed above" 1st marinate" and keep it aside for half an hour to an hour.
- Meanwhile, Soak the cashew nut with milk for 10-15 minutes and blend it until you get a smooth paste.
- In another bowl, mix grated cheddar cheese, cardamom powder, salt, black pepper powder, garam masala powder, cumin seeds, kasoori methi along with cashew nuts milk paste.
- Whisk the eggs and heavy cream. Mix till everything is well incorporated, giving a smooth paste.
- Pour this mixture to the marinated chicken and mix well, so that all chicken chunks are well coated with the paste.
- Cover and leave it in refrigerator for 2-3 hours or overnight. (Note : More you marinate better the taste. For best result marinate overnight in the refrigerator; so that all the flavors will get into it.) Remove the chicken from the refrigerator at least 30 minutes before cooking.
- Soak the bamboo skewers in water for 1/2 hrs or so. Take them out and wipe them and set it aside; This is to prevent the wooden skewers from being burn in oven or you can use metal skewers without soaking them in the water.
- This chicken malai kabab may be grilled or roasted. To Grill : Preheat oven under grill mode. Arrange the chicken pieces on skewers and place it under grill them on one side for 6-8 minutes and turn them around and baste them with left out marinade and with oil /ghee /butter midway. Let it grill for another 6 minutes or until chicken is tender and charred (or) To Broil : Keep it at 450 degree F, broil high for 6-8 minutes, again turning the sides in between or until the juices run clear and there are little brown spots on the chicken cubes. Keep it aside for 5 minutes; then serve and enjoy (or) If you don't prefer grilling, then you can bake.Place an aluminum foil on a baking tray, brush with oil and place the skewered chicken piece and bake for 10-15 minutes; take out the tray carefully using your oven mitts. Turn them over and baste it with marinade and with oil /ghee /butter using a brush or a spoon, return to oven and bake again for 10-15 minutes until the juices run clear and and there are little brown spots on the chicken cubes.Take out of the oven after 2-5 mins and let it cool slightly.
- Serve with a green chutney, onion, and lemon wedge as appetizers or with flavored rice and enjoy!
Notes
Make sure to grate the cheese finely, because only then it will stick to the chicken.
If you haven’t tried this Chicken Malai Kabab /Afghan Malai Murg Tikka, what are you waiting for? Do give it a try, you are going to love this yummy kabab…Enjoy! Don’t forget to share your opinions if you get chance to try this.
Until next time,Bon Appetite!
Sangeetha
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Hi Hazanath, First of all I'm sorry for the delayed reply. I guess I missed your comment 🙁 Sorry about that…Oven temp should be at 350° F. I'm so glad that that it lived up to your expectations!
Thank you so much for trying and sharing your feedback here. Much appreciated! Hope to see you around more!
Happy cooking!
Sangeetha
Oh my my Sangeetha.. Excellent recipe..thats the first time I tried my hands on grilling, came out so well.. I grilled half and I baked the rest , tasted different both ways.. The softest chicken ever, I could just pinch off the marinated chkn.. Thanks a lot dear
Sangeetha.. If baking, wats the oven temp should be?
Hi Melo, Thank you for your comment 🙂 Did you get to try this recipe? If so, I do hope you liked it. Looking forward for your feedback.
Happy Cooking!
Sangeetha
Hi, First of all I'm sorry for the delayed reply. I guess I missed your comment. So glad to know that this recipe turned well for you and you like it.Thanks for trying and sharing your feedback. Hope you try other recipes and like them too.
Coming to your questions…Yes I have tried freezing the cooked kebabs and I have also tried freezing the marinated kebabs too, in both cases have to compromise little on taste. As my personal experience freezing the marinated kebab turns out better than freezing cooked kebab but if you already cooked then can't help but to freeze them…but my recommendation is to always cook the meat fresh. Hope I haved answered your question.
Cheers!
Sangeetha
You're welcome! so glad to know that you liked this recipe. Freshly grated nutmeg means grating fresh nutmeg off the seed. Hope this helps! Let me know if still have doubt?
Cheers!
Sangeetha
Thanks 🙂
Hi Sangeetha – this looks scrumptious – am going to make it tomorrow and I will come back and let you know how it went – but I can tell you just looking at the recipe is making me salivate!
Hi Sangeetha
We tried this recipe and it turned out really well. The chicken was very soft and the flavours were balanced. Thanks so much. Will definitely make again for company 🙂
A quick question … we made too much so would you recommend freezing the cooked kebabs or have you ever tried freezing before cooking but after marinading overnight? Which turns out better?
This is super duper yummy chicken recipe.Thanks for this best recipes Mam/sir.But Sir/Mam i have doubt what is mean "Freshly Grated Nutmeg"?
Easy Chicken Recipes
Wow this look delicious. My mouth is watering.
You're welcome Jessica Pisu! ! I’m so glad to hear everybody enjoyed these and that they turned out so well for you! Thanks for returning to leave a comment! ! I’ll have to try it with tahini sauce sometime, thanks for the idea…I wouldn't have thought of myself.:)
Cheers!
Sangeetha
Thanks Sangeetha, indeed a wonderful recipe… N so easy… I substituted the cashews with tahini sauce n it was yum… Everybody relished it… Thanks again
Thanks a bunch for pointing out and sorry for any inconvenience.It's typo error, I have corrected it. Do try let me know how it turned out.Hope you like it!
Happy cooking!
Sangeetha
In step 3 u have mentioned jeers seeds instead of powder given in the ingredients section, have not mentioned about nutmeg powder and specified kasoori methi powder which is not there in the ingredients section. Could u pls rectify this in the recipe so that I can give it a try, thanks, an ardent kothiyavunu fan.
Done Tabitha 🙂 Now can pin it!
Have a great day!
Sangeetha
Hi Tabitha, So good to have you here. Sure, will do that immediately.
Cheers!
Sangeetha
Thanks everyone for stoping by and taking time to drop lovely comments:)…try it, Im sure u will love it.
Cheers!
Sangeetha
Hi Sona, Hope you get to try this recipe soon. Don't forget to share your feedback.
Cheers!
Sangeetha
yummy looking kebabs. shud try ur version. bookmarked.
Amazing and incredible dish. Perfect party dish….
I am drooling looking at the pics,,,
Looks so delicious
Hi Sangeetha
Please Add Pinterest Icon to your site , so we can Pin it in our PinBoards.
thanks
Tabitha
Mouthwatering here, kabab looks highly inviting and full of flavours.
Nicely done and beautifully clicked!
kothippikalle mole…kababs super ayittudu!
wow ..it looks so fab …lovely clicks
Bookmarking this recipe Sangeetha..truly scrumptious..
My mouth is watering here… Amazing clicks
Irresistible dish!!!Mouth watering clicks!!!
Very tempting dish…im drooling here eishing to grab a stick….
oh my my, now this is super duper yummy chicken, i can have the whole set 🙂
loving it!!!